Walk through any haveli in Shekhawati or Jodhpur and your eyes go straight up — to cusped arches framing courtyards, scalloped doorways opening into rooms drenched in frescoes. That silhouette, part Mughal, part Rajput, carries centuries of craft in a single curve. And it works just as beautifully in a two-bedroom flat in Gurgaon.
The Arch as a Room Divider
Forget drywall partitions. An arched opening between your living and dining areas creates separation without killing the flow. Contractors across Delhi-NCR and Mumbai now offer pre-cast arches in GRC (glass-reinforced concrete) that bolt onto existing door frames — installation takes a day, not a month.
Go for a three-centred arch if you want classic haveli proportions, or a simple cusped arch for something more ornate. Paint it the same colour as your walls for a subtle effect, or pick Jodhpur blue or Jaipur pink lime wash to make it the room's focal point. Brands like Asian Paints Royale and Birla White stock lime wash finishes that nail this look.
A single arch reframes everything behind it — instant haveli energy.
Jali Screens for Light and Privacy
Every Rajasthani haveli used jaali work to filter harsh desert sun into soft, patterned light. You can replicate this with MDF or teak jali panels from markets like Kirti Nagar in Delhi or S.V. Road workshops in Mumbai. Mount one as a room screen, a window cover, or even a headboard.
For a weekend-friendly option, try Fabindia's carved wooden screens or The Wishing Chair's jali-pattern dividers — both ship pan-India. Place a warm lamp behind a jaali panel at night, and your wall turns into a lattice of light and shadow that rivals anything in Amber Fort.
Jaali screens do double duty — privacy by day, shadow art by night.
Quick Tip: Pick up brass jharokha frames (miniature balcony windows) from Jaipur's Johari Bazaar or online at Chumbak and Good Earth. Mount three in a row above your sofa for an instant haveli gallery wall — no drilling beyond basic picture hooks.
Mirrors and Niches That Tell a Story
Havelis never left a wall bare. Arched niches — called taaqs — held oil lamps, small idols, and family heirlooms. Recreate this with arched floating shelves from Nicobar or Anantaya. Group three at different heights in a hallway, fill them with brass diyas, Kondapalli wooden toys, or a small Tanjore painting.
For mirrors, skip the rectangular IKEA standard. Arched mirrors with distressed wooden or brass frames are everywhere now — Urban Ladder and Pepperfry both carry them under ₹5,000. Lean one against a wall in your entryway, and every guest walks into a haveli greeting.
An arched mirror in the foyer — the simplest haveli trick in the book.
Bring the Courtyard Feeling Indoors
The haveli courtyard was the heart of the home — open sky, tulsi plant, stone floor, family gathered around. You probably don't have a courtyard, but you can fake the feeling. Dedicate one corner of your balcony or living room to a cluster of terracotta planters, a small stone chowki (low stool), and a brass urli filled with marigolds and floating diyas.
Use Chettinad-style terracotta tiles or Athangudi tiles as a small accent floor patch — even a 4x4 foot section under a reading chair changes the mood entirely. Pair it with a Kullu shawl thrown over a cane chair, and that corner becomes the emotional centre of your flat. No courtyard needed.
The courtyard spirit — sky, stone, and green — scales down beautifully.
Every arch you add is a quiet nod to the master builders of Rajasthan, and a reminder that the best Indian design never needed to be minimalist or maximal — it just needed to be generous.
